Vikings rout NEC foe Salem, 41-0

Set for non-league showdown with Framingham

Consider Salem High a quiz.

Now comes a test for Coach John Cadigan’s undefeated, unscored-upon Winthrop High football team as the Vikings host undefeated Framingham High Thursday at Miller Field.

The Vikings scored early and often in a 41-0 victory over Salem High last Saturday at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody.

Senior captain Chris Ferrara, who represented the Vikings in the coin toss (only one captain per team is allowed for the pre-game conference at midfield), scored on a 22-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Ferrara also caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Duke Doherty.

Bobby Hubert made his presence felt in a big way again with his second punt return (65 yards) for a touchdown in two games. Hubert also scored on two-yard run.

Doherty connected with Mike Chaves on a 53-yard touchdown pass while Bryan Conceicao scored the final TD on a three-yard run.

Doherty dented the Witches’ defense for 142 yards passing (4-of-5) and two touchdowns.

Coach Cadigan was pleased with his team’s performance. The Vikings have outscored their opponents, 69-0, in two games.

“I am happy with our progress,” said Cadigan. “It’s always good obviously to start off 2-0. It’s always good to shut out your first two opponents and score on special teams for two straight weeks. But the message going forward is that it’s going to get tougher.”

 And that begins today (Thursday at 6:30 p.m.) when the Vikings play a 2-0 Framingham team out of the highly regarded Bay State League. Framingham was the largest town in the United States before becoming a city in 2018.

“We have our work cut out for us,” said Cadigan. “It’s a great challenge and we’re certainly excited about it.”

Conceicao receives

defensive player award

Bryan Conceicao won the Black Shirt award with two sacks, a tackle for a loss, and a caused fumble for Coach James Fucillo’s defensive squad.

Middle linebacker Ian Harris had eight tackles.

Carter blocks a punt

Michael Carter nearly blocked a punt against Saugus in the Vikings’ season-opening 28-0 victory.

Carter was credited with blocked punt against Salem, setting up the Vikings’ first touchdown.

“That play was really a catalyst to starting the game for us,” said Cadigan. “We’ve been working on special teams a lot in practice.”

Cadigan related that Carter told him that he “got a fingertip” on a Saugus punt a week ago. “I said, ‘this week get more than a fingertip on it’ and he went out and blocked the first punt of the game. That was pretty good.”

Hovermale continues

his sensational start

Ryan Hovermale, the Vikings’ defensive player of the game in Week 1, had six carries for 113 yards behind some solid blocking by the offensive line. “Ryan was all over the place offensively and defensively,” credited Cadigan.